The city of Kent and Kent Downtown Partnership will unveil a new lighting project on Thursday, May 10, underneath the Highway 167/West Meeker Street overpass.
The evening will begin with a reception at 7 p.m. at Around the Clock, 716 W. Meeker St., followed by the display of new, energy-efficient, colored LED architectural lighting under the overpass at approximately 8:30 p.m. The artistic light display is programmable and can be changed by the city to mark special events or holidays.
“With financial support and encouragement from KDP, the city has been working on this lighting project for the last several years, helping to create an attractive gateway to our historic core,” Mayor Dana Ralph said in a news release. “I’m excited to see it come to fruition to provide attractive lighting for safer walking, biking and driving. Thank you to our Economic Development and Public Works teams for working so diligently to get this project completed.”
Barbara Smith, executive director for Kent Downtown Partnership, looks forward to the new lighting.
“Our businesses and residents rose to the occasion, raising $24,000 to help fund this project,” Smith said. “This is one of many gateways into downtown, and the lights will leave a lasting impression on people as they pass through. A big thank you to our donors for their patience while the city jumped through hoops to make this happen. Also, many thanks to Bill Ellis, of Economic Development, for his tenacity and staying with the project.”
Donors of the project included Meridian Dental, Tarragon, Rotary Club of Kent, Kent Lions, BECU, Tork Lift Central, Sue and Steve Froyd, Thomas Byrne, Suzanne and Larry Cameron, Dennis Higgins, Greg Haffner, Judy Woods, Mike Hanis, Randall and Chandra Smith, Rick Roland, Lisa Vivian and Lee Eberle.
The city paid $26,003 for its share of the project cost. Plans for the lighting were delayed because it took about a year for the state Department of Transportation to sign off on the work, according to city officials.
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